Here is some of the important information about our plans for Avery's arrival and also about some of the decisions we've made about Avery's birth and care. We're hoping our family and friends will take the time to read about what we've decided and will be respectful of those choices! :)

Birth Info

• Avery will be considered "full term" on December 14th, and could arrive anytime around then!
• If he arrives as early as Harmony did, we'd be in labour by December 21st.
• If he doesn't arrive on his own by December 29th, he'll be delivered by C-section on that date.

Why the C-section? Since Harmony was delivered via C-section, we've decided that this would be the best choice for our delivery with Avery as well. The information we have from the Ottawa Hospital listed stats that showed the risks of infant death increased by ten when a vaginal birth was attempted (1 in 800 babies as opposed to 1 in 9,000) compared to an elective Cesarean. The risks to mom (i.e. uterine rupture) were also greater if a VBAC was attempted. Kris' OB would normally schedule a C-section for 38.5 weeks, but since this would be Christmas day (and the 3 days following it are stat. holidays), we are scheduled to go in on December 29th. If Avery decides to come earlier than this, we will be trying for a VBAC, since we'll have already lost many of the advantages of an elective C-section. Either way, we just want him delivered the safest and easiest way possible, especially after all that we've already been through to try to have a healthy baby.

Hospital Info

Our OB works out of the General campus, so that's where we'll be delivering! Their visitor policies are as follows:

• Spouse/partner is allowed there 24/7.
• Siblings are allowed to visit, but no other children are permitted.
• Visiting hours are from 3pm to 8pm.

Click here for directions and a map to the hospital.

We will be in the hospital for about 2 days if Avery is delivered via VBAC, and for 3-4 days if he is delivered via C-section. Since this is such a short time, and since I had a bad experience with the visiting schedule while in the hospital with Harmony, I would prefer to keep visiting to a minimum this time so that I don't end up being hostess to large groups of people right after birth/delivery (and surgery)! I am hoping that this time, I won't be looking back at my labour or hospital journal to see the words "I was going to get some sleep, but _____ arrived instead". We will probably be comfortable with having a few visitors each afternoon (Harmony, Kathryn, Jo-Ann, Dee-Dee, possibly a few close friends), but would really appreciate it if most of our friends and family wait until we are back home to visit or call. If he isn't born before the 29th and we go ahead with the C-section on that date, we should all be back at home by New Year's Day.

Newborn Care Info

• Avery will be "rooming in" with me during our stay at the hospital, and will be sleeping in our room for the first few months.
• I'll be breastfeeding exclusively for as long as Avery would like to, which will hopefully be until he is 1.
• We've decided not to get Avery circumsised, because it's not medically necessary and no longer recommended.

My parenting views are very Attachment/Natural parenting, and I believe in responding to a newborn baby's needs right away (I don't feel this "spoils" them, but instead creates a healthy relationship based on trust). With these values as a foundation, I will be finding a balance between Paul's views and my own (e.g. I am more a fan of co-sleeping in the first few months than he is, so I might choose to nurse the baby in bed for our afternoon naps together but keep him in his bassinet in our room at night). I would consider myself well-read on the subject of parenting, especially given the parenting courses, workshops, seminars, etc. I have taken (not to mention the Child Psych courses I took as part of my uni degree!), so in general I find a lot of "well-meaning" advice to be either a repetition of what I've heard (if it's good advice) or totally unecessary (if it's bad advice that I will just ignore anyways because it goes against what I've researched). Basically, you are welcome to give us advice on parenting, but instead of expecting us to follow it, please know that we're well educated and making our own choices about what's best for Avery (which may not be the same choices others would make)!